What is Existential Poetry
Existential poetry is a broad genre of writing that focuses on the individual’s experience of the physical and mental world, their own identity, and the ever-changing nature of the life that humans experience. As put by renowned poet T.S. Eliot, “the essential thing is to develop an apprehension of the universe as a connected whole and of human societies as dependent upon the wellbeing of the individual.” In exploring this connectedness, existential poems range in topics from pain to beauty, spirit to biology, sorrow to joy. The underlying purpose of such poetry being to deeply engage the reader and stimulate contemplation of our place and purpose in the larger universe.
Existential poetry often goes beyond describing, focusing instead on investigating underlying ideas about our existence. Through asking questions, exploring themes of identity, life, and mortality, and often portraying images of death and rebirth, existential poetry helps us to question our lives, becoming more aware of our choices and the consequences of them. Existentialist poetry asks us to look outside of ourselves, to grapple with the pain and beauty of our lives and to reflect on the complexities and possibilities of existence.
Many famous poets have used this genre to evoke feelings of angst, pathos and joy. Poets such as John Donne, Emily Dickinson and Percy Bysshe Shelley have all used existential poetry to explore themes of identity, mortality and the cycle of life and death. Mary Oliver, a modern day poet, often explores metaphorical and philosophical ideas about nature, humanity, and existence. In her poem “In Blackwater Woods” she writes, “To Live in this world/you must be able to do three things/to love what is mortal/to hold it/against your bones knowing/your own life depends on it.” Through this poem, Oliver encourages us to think about transience, change and mortality.
Existential poetry transcends language, emotion and logic. It has a power to inspire and to give weight to the consequences of decision making. Through examining the depths of sorrow, divining wisdom and drawing on beauty, poets can invoke deep feelings of understanding and empathy. And while some may find it bleak, it is important to remember that existential poetry can provide us with hope, insight and opportunity for peace.
Existential Poetry and the Natural World
The natural world is of great significance to existential poets, since it is a reflection of our own mortality. By its means of survival, the natural world works to reclaim its existent beauty, while at the same time representing loss and regeneration. The cycles of death, decay and rebirth illustrated by natural life provide an opportunity to examine our own mortality, and the beauty that can come from contemplation of life’s fragility. T.S. Eliot’s “The Dry Salvages” for example, uses images of the sea to explore ideas of change and death.
In ‘The Dry Salvages’, Eliot uses images of the sea to explore how death, Decay, change and rebirth can all be connected. He writes, “Weeping and waves unite, Our shadows crossing on the soundless tides;/ The twilit rivers chant their flames; the salt is on our tongues”. By touching on the natural landscape, Eliot invites his readers to experience their own mortality. He effectively captures the enormity of life, death and change – themes common to existential poetry.
Existential poets often use the natural world as a tool to examine our lives and our connections to the universe. Poems that focus on the natural world are particularly effective at prompting contemplation of mortality and the idea of change. Mary Oliver’s “In Blackwater Woods” or Dylan Thomas’s “Fern Hill” are excellent examples of how they pull on the natural world to connect with the reader and initiate contemplation of life and this universe.
Existential Poetry and its Role in the Literary Landscape
Existential poetry has been one of the most enduring and influential genres of writing, especially in the last century. Among some of the most famous existential poets is W.B. Yeats, an Irish poet who wrote about human suffering and our need for companionship. In his poem “The Second Coming”, he writes, “Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold./Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world”. With these lines, Yeats conveys his belief that chaos is a result of man’s alienation from his true self, and the search for meaning, security and comfort.
Other famous poets such as Rainer Maria Rilke, Dylan Thomas, and of course T.S. Eliot also greatly contributed to the genre of existential poetry. These poets wrote primarily on themes of life’s struggles, death and rebirth. Their poems helped to bring this philosophical movement to the mainstream. Now, existential poetry is embraced by a variety of readers, both for its dark and contemplative nature, and for its celebration of life and our existences in the universe.
Existential Poetry Today
Most modern day existentialist poets examine the same themes as their predecessors, however with a contemporary perspective. In The Light of the World, Elizabeth Alexander writes “We all have the mountain each of us must climb/we travel the pilgrimage to the beat of a different drummer.” Through exploring such themes as choice, identity and destiny, Alexander encourages individual transformation. For her, existentialism is a way of engaging with positive change, as a way of understanding life better. Even in the face of death and suffering, modern poets such as Alexander help us to look on the bright side, by pointing out the possibility of growth through struggles and embracing challenge.
Contemporary poets are also exploring existential themes in new and exciting ways. Poets such as Tracy K. Smith use vivid imagery to ask questions of our mortal existence, often exploring themes of mortality, identity and belonging. Smith’s poem “The Universe as Comic Book” offers a contemporary take on these themes, writing “So how exactly does one learn to live/not only with what is/but also what isn’t?” Through her words, Smith gives her readers a chance to contemplate the depths of our lives, while also, surprisingly, making us laugh.
Existentialism and the Art of Human Connection
At its core, existential poetry is a genre of poetry focused on connection, on connecting with the reader and exploring connections between humans and the universe. It seeks to explore the depths of our humanity, while helping us to contemplate our own lives and find meaning and belonging. Through embracing our mortality and its inevitability, existentialists invite us to bridge what we do not yet know, to contemplate possibilities that are hidden from us and to take risks that might bring with them unforeseen changes.
Ultimately, existentialist poetry encourages us to step away from traditional ways of understanding our existence and embrace the risk of our instinctual knowing. Through this risk, we can learn more about our own identities and the world around us. As Dutch-American poet and philosopher Adrienne Rich has said, “When we learn to listen to our doubts, our fears, our hunger, I believe we become less vulnerable to fear-mongers and ideologues who try to drive a wedge between us.” Existential poetry invites us to bridge the divide between human and universe, doers and thinkers, life and death.
Existentialism and the Embrace of Uncertainty
Existential poetry offers a unique glimpse into our lives and the universe, allowing us to let go of control and embrace uncertainty. This type of writing invites us to find a way forward that is neither regressive nor oppressive, and to explore new possibilities and forms of being. Poets such as Sylvia Plath, William Carlos Williams and Sharon Olds have all explored our relationship to the universe and mortality through their use of imagery and metaphor.
Existentialism encourages us to confront mortality and our insignificance in the grand scheme of things. But it also tells us that each individual is special and has a place in the world. It allows us to consider our life experiences and losses in the context of a larger universe. Sylvia Plath’s “Tulips” is a perfect example of this, as it asks to consider what remains when the difficult parts of our lives have been endured. By doing so, it invites us to think of our lives within a wider context, to see what is and to embrace the journey ahead.
The Power of Existential Poetry
At its core, existential poetry is a genre of writing that allows us to pause and think, to gain a greater understanding of the world and of ourselves. Existentialist poems provide a unique opportunity to engage deeply with life’s intricacies, embrace its pain and beauty, and contemplate the wider universe. By tapping into our emotions and our most intimate thoughts, this genre of poetry offers a chance to bridge our fears, our joys and our uncertainties. In this way, it has the power to evoke empathy, to open conversation and to tell us something about our place in the world.
Existential Poetry encourages us to set ourselves free, to explore our own reality and to reach out to those around us. By so doing, it helps us to better understand our own existence and our place in the universe. While the journey may be uncertain, existential poetry allows us to connect to this vulnerability, find courage and peace by recognising our interconnectedness.
